I have an 87 300E that was converted to 134a(PAG oil) in 7/01. Some 134a was added with a new receiver/drier in 8/03. Dye check in 11/03 showed a slight amount at the top part of the condensor.
At a tech session today I asked one of the techs to show me what the pressures looked like. When removing the plastic caps the valve came off and all the refrigerant was lost. He said the cap was too tight and the valve was too loose. Then he got an AC machine hooked up in 1-2 min and did a 15 min evac cycle. Then 2 oz of dye oil was added and 1.92 lbs of 134a. No new receiver/drier put in. After starting the car, the temp of the air coming from my vents by infra red was in the 20s F(some argument re calibration-but seemed cold.) Several people thought I automatically needed a new receiver/drier whenever a system is opened. Do I? Any other probs to look out for?
Thanks.

R/D less than a year old; a pro tech, on the spot to vacuum and recharge, Wow. You're good to go! (although I would have liked a longer vacuum time and a check for leak down of the vacuum). You're certainly in at least as good a spot as when you drove in, probably better.

I would not automatically replace the R/D in this case at all.

You couldn't have made this up if you tried! Great outcome.

__________________
The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Well, typically I would indeed like to see a longer evac, especially since the r/d was not replaced. That said, the evac was not immmediately after the refrigerant was lost so there was not a bunch of time, if any, for moisture to enter system. It sounds like the system was never opened to the atmosphere.

The only thing is, it sounds like you have some of the aluminum adapter fittings. It would have been nice to put on the good steel ones while you were at it.

I think the system is good to go.

See you June 4th,

Thanks to all.